I’m not sure whether there still is coal mining in Iowa. But 30 some years ago I know the U of IA was required by the legislature to burn at least some Iowa origin coal in its generating plant so there must have still been some then. My great-grandfather got a job as company doctor at an Iowa coal mine right out of med school and was the only doctor on the scene, credited with saving multiple lives, when the worst coal mine disaster in Iowa history struck a bit over 110 years ago. That closed the mine and that wiped the town from Iowa’s map so he moved to the county seat and started his own practice. He lived long enough to meet me and practiced long enough that I’ve had the joy having had a few of his patients as my own.
I took a promotional transfer to Centerville to work for the unemployment office instead of guarding planes at the Des Moines Air Guard base.